The leaders must be chosen very carefully if the farmer would have a straight furrow. It seems as if these first two oxen in the picture feel the responsibility, and are glad and willing to do their part. There is a look of intelligence about them that makes us certain that they know and understand the worth of the thing they are doing.
Oxen in our country are driven by the words "gee," meaning turn to the right, and "haw," turn to the left. However, the drivers in this picture would not use these words, for they are Frenchmen, and would speak to them in their own language.
It is easy to tell that the ground is soft by the way the feet of the oxen sink down into it, and by the man's wooden shoe which has half slipped off his foot as he starts to lift it from the ground. On this quiet, peaceful morning we can almost hear the heavy tread of the oxen as they pass us, and the harsh call of the drivers as they urge them on. In imagination we can smell the freshly plowed earth. To be sure, it is a hard pull up the hill, but how cheerfully, even proudly, the oxen pull their load! Look at their backs; you will see a slanting line which emphasizes the fact that they are climbing a hill. This line is broken somewhat by the slant of the woods in the distance. Cover up these distant woods with the hand or a piece of paper and we immediately have the uncomfortable feeling that the oxen are going to slip back out of the picture.
In this picture the artist has portrayed the intelligent use man makes of the power and strength of animals and of the soil. We see so few oxen now that we wonder why they were so much used in those days; but of course we know it was because the farmers did not have the machinery for tilling the ground, sowing, and planting grain that we have. Horses were used also, but oxen were cheaper, so all could afford them. Then, too, oxen may have been chosen because of their superior strength, steadiness, and patience.
The artist has centered our attention on the nearest of the two first pairs of oxen. The other oxen and driver are of secondary importance and the landscape itself last of all. The artist has accomplished this by color, light, and shade, and by a more careful treatment of the nearest oxen, showing plainly their intelligent eyes, wrinkled hides, and even the play of muscles as they step forward, pulling their heavy load.
Rosa Bonheur finished this painting only a short time before her father died. As soon as he saw it he knew that his daughter had painted a masterpiece, and almost his last words were in praise of her work.
Questions to help the pupil understand the picture. Why do you think these men and oxen must have started to work very early? Why do you think it is still early? What time of year do you think it is? why? Where did Rosa Bonheur paint this picture? Where did she keep her canvas and paints? What preparation did she make before painting the picture? What is the driver doing? In what humor does the nearest ox seem to be? How are the oxen geared together? Why must they have good leaders? How are oxen driven? Why do you think these drivers would not use the same words that we should? How can you tell that the ground is soft? Do you think the oxen are pulling hard? Why did they use oxen so much in those days? What are used now? Upon which of the oxen has the artist centered our attention? What is next in importance? last of all? How has the artist done this? What did Rosa Bonheur's father think of this picture?
To the Teacher:
Subjects for Compositions
The Picture and What It Represents.
How This Picture Was Painted.
What I Would Consider Most Important in a Picture.
Why I Like This Picture.
Rosa Bonheur as a Little Girl.
Rosa Bonheur as an Artist.